COMPARATIVE ANATOMICAL INVESTIGATIONS ON SOME SPECIES OF THE GENUS ANGELICA L.

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1 Contribuţii Botanice 2012, XLVII: Grădina Botanică Alexandru Borza Cluj-Napoca COMPARATIVE ANATOMICAL INVESTIGATIONS ON SOME SPECIES OF THE GENUS ANGELICA L. Andrei LOBIUC, Maria-Magdalena ZAMFIRACHE, Lăcrămioara IVĂNESCU Universitatea Alexandru Ioan Cuza, Facultatea de Biologie, Bd. Carol I, RO , Iaşi, Romȃnia Abstract: The genus Angelica L. (Apiaceae) consists of some species throughout the world, many with therapeutic potential. In Romania the genus is represented by three species: A. archangelica L., A. sylvestris L. and A. palustris (Besser) Hoffm.. Possessing high concentrations of bioactive compounds such as mono- and sesquiterpenes (mainly α- and β-pinene, α- and β-phelandrene) and coumarins, various taxa of the genus have been relatively well characterized from a phytochemical point of view and various bioactivities have been described for extracts from such taxa. However, anatomical features have received much less interest, except for characters of the fruits. Meanwhile, a comparative description of the indigenous Romanian species is lacking in the literature and may prove useful if microscopic discrimination among them is required. The current study compares the three species at the level of different organs, underlining both similarities and differences. Keywords: Angelica archangelica L., Angelica sylvestris L., Angelica palustris (Besser) Hoffm., anatomy. Introduction With more than 90 species described in the literature, the genus Angelica (Apiaceae) is relatively large, with established importance since more than half of its species have traditional uses as therapeutic resources. Meanwhile, more than 10 species are included in commercial products with various indications [9]. The research on the various taxa is mainly biochemically oriented and has revealed anti-tumour [5], antibacterial [7], antifungal [12] and other bioactivities of the compounds contained in different types of extracts investigated. The anatomy of the different species is, quantitatively, less represented in the literature we have surveyed, and the available data concern mainly A. archangelica [10,11], A. sylvestris [6] and some Asian species [1]. For A. palustris, anatomical details are scarce indeed, and a comparison in this respect for the three Romanian indigenous taxa is needed. Considering that two of the species present in the Romanian flora, A. archangelica and A. sylvestris, are regarded as medicinal plants, and also the lack of information about A. palustris, we feel it is useful to describe the comparative anatomy of the three species. It should be noted that A. palustris is a rare European species listed on Annex II of the EU Habitats Directive, and is local in Romania, where its conservation status is regarded as Vulnerable. Material and Methods Plants were collected from wild populations, at the fruiting stage, and a specimen from each species deposited at the Faculty of Biology Herbarium, and authenticated by Prof. Nicolae Ştefan from the Faculty of Biology. Razor-cut sections were obtained using a hand microtome. Subsequently, the sections were stained using a dual coloration technique with iodine green and ruthenium red. The organs used for anatomical investigations were the root (in the case of A. archangelica, due to insufficient material, the collet was used), the stem (in the median longitudinal region), the base of the leaf rachis and the foliole. For each of the taxa, six individuals were analyzed in order to evaluate possible individual variations (the number of individuals examined was limited by the size of the populations). Observations were made using

2 68 A. LOBIUC, M.M. ZAMFIRACHE, L. IVĂNESCU a Olympus microscope with built-in camera which allowed photographs to be taken. Additionally, permanent slides were obtained using a mixture of glycerine and gelatine as the embedding medium. Results The main differences between the three species, at the level of the organs investigated, are summarized in Table 1. Also, some similarities for each organ in the three taxa are included. Table 1: Comparative anatomical aspects of three Angelica taxa Species/organ A. archangelica L. A. palustris (Besser) Hoffm. Root (collet for A. archangelica) Stem Base of rachis Foliole - irregularly shaped air cavities - extremely narrow medullary rays - reduced numbers of small diameter woody vessels among the woody parenchyma cells (Photos 1,2) - irregular air cavities within the breadth of the parenchymal cortex - sometimes, these cavities can be observed in the range of secondary phloem (Photo 5) - secondary medullary rays 7- to 16-layered, made of cells having all walls very thin, cellulo-pectic, very rich in starch (Photo 3) - secretory ducts within the phloem - secretory ducts have collector channels surrounded by 2 layers of cells, especially for ducts next to isles of hypodermal collenchyma - secondary vascular bundles with arch-shaped libriform tissue which encompasses 3 5 small vessels (Photo 6,7) A. sylvestris L. - the libriform tissue is missing from the secondary wood - the secondary medullary rays in the range of secondary phloem are very large (7- to 13-layered) due to the size of the component elements (Photo 4) - smaller bundles in respect of the number of vessels (Photo 8) - in all three species, the transition from the primary to the secondary structure is made according to the Helianthus model - the upper (internal) side - the hypodermal shows 3 ribs (2 obviously collenchyma is poleshaped, while some cells taller, approximately equal, centering a third rib, in the basic parenchyma with 1/3 the height of the have slightly thickened others) and lignified walls - in hypodermal position, (Photo 12) each rib has a multilayered angular collenchyma (8 11 layers) (Photo 9) - a 3-rib arrangement is missing (2 taller, centering a smaller one), instead the upper side shows several, relatively tall and wide ribs - within the basic parenchyma, high numbers of secretory ducts and collateral open type vascular bundles occur, placed at mid-distance between the two epidermides (Photos 10,11) - secretory ducts occur around some of the vascular bundles; twin bundles occur, with the xylem strands facing each other - on the adaxial-abaxial - the palisade tissue - the median vein also flanks and in the abaxial presents cells in the second shows a ridge on the region, 5 isles of layer less tall and with abaxial face hypodermal collenchyma small air spaces between (Photo 16) occur, each one having them next to it one secretory (Photo 15)

larger - beneath the upper epidermis, a palisade cells

1/3 of the mesophyll height; between the palisade

of funnel-shaped cells exist (collecting cells)

archangelica collet (cross-section) Photo 3: A.

3 COMPARATIVE ANATOMICAL INVESTIGATIONS ON SOME SPECIES OF. 69 duct, the one at the axial face obviously larger - beneath the upper epidermis, a palisade cells layer takes up approx. 1/3 of the mesophyll height; between the palisade cells layer and the first lacunaetype layer, a layer of funnel-shaped cells exist (collecting cells) (Photos 13,14) - the structure is bifacial heterofacial Photo 1: A. archangelica collet (cross-section) Photo 2: A. archangelica collet (cross-section) Photo 3: A. palustris root (cross-section) Photo 4: A. sylvestris root (cross-section) Photo 5: A. archangelica stem (cross-section) Photo 6: A. palustris stem (cross-section)

4 70 A. LOBIUC, M.M. ZAMFIRACHE, L. IVĂNESCU Photo 7: A. palustris stem (cross-section) Photo 8: A. sylvestris stem (cross-section) Photo 9: A. archangelica rachis base (crosssection) Photo 10: A. palustris rachis base (cross-section) Photo 11: A. palustris rachis base (cross-section) Photo 12: A. sylvestris rachis base (cross-section) Photo 13: A. archangelica foliole (cross-section) Photo 14: A. archangelica foliole (cross-section)

The types of tissues encountered and their disposition are consistent with those already described, such as the epidermis, a collenchyma strand, secretory ducts, vascular strands, other secretory

5 COMPARATIVE ANATOMICAL INVESTIGATIONS ON SOME SPECIES OF. 71 Photo 15: A. palustris foliole (cross-section) Photo 16: A. sylvestris foliole (cross-section) Discussion At the level of the organs investigated, our observations are in agreement with previous studies. The types of tissues encountered and their disposition are consistent with those already described, such as the epidermis, a collenchyma strand, secretory ducts, vascular strands, other secretory ducts within the outer pith in the stem or the peridermis, a cortical parenchyma, a secondary cortical area comprising the medullary rays, a cambial area and vascular strands in the root [3]. The presence of cortical parenchyma in the stem and the similar secretory system in the stem and leaf were also described earlier [2]. Secretory ducts in the phloem and the partly disorganized cortical tissue in the root were also noted [8]. The internal structure of the leaf conforms to the bifacial heterogeneous type [4]. It must be noted that characteristic features such as those above are more or less common to many species of Apiaceae. Referring to the species investigated by us, we may confirm aspects such as the air cavities in the stem of A. archangelica or the arrangement of ribs on the rachis of the same species [6]. However, for the other two species investigated, the literature offers far fewer data for comparison, especially at the level of the organs considered. Thus, we consider some of the observed aspects useful for differentiating between species, such as the width of the medullary rays in the root. The arrangement of the ribs of the rachis is different for A. archangelica and A. palustris, while it shows some similarities between A. archangelica and A. sylvestris, although the pole-shaped hypodermal collenchyma in the latter leaves little room for confusion. Within the foliole, the five isles of collenchyma and accompanying secretory ducts present in A. archangelica clearly set this species apart, as do the funnel-shaped cells underneath the row of palisade cells. While there are two layers of palisade cells in both A. palustris and A. sylvestris, the latter shows additional vascular strands on the flanks and also a ridge on the abaxial face. Another noteworthy aspect that might be considered is the transitional model from primary to secondary structure in the stem for all three taxa. Conclusions While confirming some of the anatomical data in the literature, our study also points out some features, both shared and different in the three indigenous Romanian Angelica taxa. Such

6 72 A. LOBIUC, M.M. ZAMFIRACHE, L. IVĂNESCU traits could be used to distinguish these species, complementing morphological aspects as necessary. Moreover, especially for A. palustris but also for A. sylvestris, the elements described might help to better characterize the species. Considering that observations might be made at the level of other organs as well, future investigations may well observe other notable features of these taxa. REFERENCES 1. Avula, B., Joshi, V.C., Reddy, N., Choi, Y.-W., 2007, Simultaneous determination of eight coumarins in Angelica gigas and in various other Angelica species by high performance liquid chromatography and comparative micro-morphology study of Angelica species, Planta Med., 73: Bonnier, G., du Sablon L., 1905, Cours de botanique Phanerogames, Paris: Courchet, M., 1884, Etude anatomique sur les Ombelliferes. In: M. Ph. Van Tieghem (ed.), Botanique comprenant l anatomie, la physiologie, la classification des vegetaux vivants et fossiles, Paris: Deysson, G., 1965, Éléments d anatomie des plantes vasculaires, Sedes, Paris: (Apiaceae, ). 5. Gawron, A., Glowniak, K., 1987, Cytostatic Activity of Coumarins in vitro, Planta Med., 53(6): Géneau de Lamarlière, L., 1893, Recherches morphologiques sur la famille des Ombellifères. Thèse, Lille. 7. Lee, S., Shin, D.-S., Kim, J.S., Oh, K.-B., Kang, S.S., 2003, Antibacterial Coumarins from Angelica gigas Roots, Arch. Pharm. Res, 26(6): Metcalfe, C.R., Chalk, L., 1950, Anatomy of the dicotyledons. vol. I, Oxford: Sarker, S.D., Nahar, L., 2004, Natural Medicine: The Genus Angelica, Current Medicinal Chemistry, 11: Toma, C., Rugină, R., 1998, Anatomia plantelor medicinale. Ed. Academiei Române, Bucureşti: (A. archangelica, ). 11. Terpilo, N.I., 1961, Anatomiceskiz atlas lekarstvennyh rasteniz, Gosud. Mediţin. Izdat., Ukr. SSR, Kiev: Wedge, D.E., Klun, J.A., Tabanca, N., Demirci, B., Ozek, T., Baser, K.H.C., Liu, Z., Zhang, S., Cantrell, C.L., Zhang, J., 2009, Bioactivity-Guided Fractionation and GC/MS Fingerprinting of Angelica sinensis and Angelica archangelica Root Components for Antifungal and Mosquito Deterrent Activity, J. Agric. Food Chem., 57: INVESTIGAŢII ANATOMICE COMPARATIVE ASUPRA UNOR SPECII ALE GENULUI ANGELICA L. (Rezumat) Genul Angelica este reprezentat la nivel mondial prin cca. 100 de specii, numeroase având valenţe terapeutice. Compoziţia chimică a acestor specii include metaboliţi secundari de tipul cumarinelor şi a uleiurilor esenţiale, iar activităţile farmacologice sunt deosebit de variate în ceea ce priveşte extractele obţinute din astfel de plante. În România, genul este reprezentat prin 3 specii, A. archangelica, A. sylvestris şi A. palustris, primele două fiind recunoscute ca plante medicinale. Deşi studiile asupra acestor specii sunt relativ numeroase, ele sunt preponderent axate pe investigaţii fitochimice, analizele anatomice fiind mai puţin reprezentate. Pentru A. palustris, literatura oferă foarte puţine date în ceea ce priveşte anatomia, iar o comparaţie la acest nivel între cele 3 specii lipseşte, putând fi utilă dacă ţinem cont de asemănările morfologice şi de includerea unor astfel de specii în preparate terapeutice comerciale. Studiul redă o serie de diferenţe şi de similitudini între cele 3 specii la nivelul a diferite organe, putând servi la diferenţierea speciilor pe criterii anatomice. Received: ; Accepted:

Irina Berciu *, Constantin Toma Department of Biology, Al. I. Cuza University, Iasi

HISTO-ANATOMICAL ASPECTS OF VEGETATIVE ORGANS OF THYMUS DACICUS BORB. AND THYMUS GLABBRESCENS WILLD. Irina Berciu *, Constantin Toma Department of Biology, Al. I. Cuza University, Iasi * Correspondence: